Fun with ATCs

It's been a while, but I am participating in today's

challenge at Dilly Beans challenges. 

The theme is really simple.

Make an ATC.

This is the perfect time to use up some scraps,

and make a mini piece of art.

I used #376 Martin.

He is one of my favorite Dilly Beans images. 

I colored Martin with Copics, fussy cut him out, and then

attached him to a remnant background from some TH ink clean up.

I'm a die hard hoarder. Never throw anything away. 

The day I do throw it out, will be the day I want to use the damned thing.

I used the sentiment stamp for the very first time, even though I've had it for 

probably a year or more. Notice the addition of a cookie in 

Martin's hand. I drew it, and added it to match the sentiment. 

Not sure if Martin is the monster or not....   

I have taken a border sticker from Tim Coffey (K Designs?), and cut it apart to

make a stack of skulls for Martin to stand on. Lastly, I edged the ATC with

Orange Peel Stickles to add some sparkle.

Ta-dah!

Please stop by Dilly Beans challenge blog, and take in the eye candy the

DT has created for this two week challenge. 

Maybe even make an ATC of your own for the challenge!

I'd like to enter this in the current challenge at 

Wicked Wednesday ATC Challenges - Crazy Craniums

Hearts and Love at Dilly Beans

I had taken a bit of a break with Dilly Beans, but I'm back!

I had almost forgotten how much fun it is to create with 

Megan's wonderfully quirky images. They lend themselves to

so many occasions, color schemes, and level of crafter. 

The theme for the start of this (now) bi-weekly challenge is

LOVE AND HEARTS.

Now, you know I don't go in the for the really lovey-dovey schtuff,

so I created a sweet tag using #579 Frankie and his Bride.

I thought it depicted true love, no matter the state of decay.

How sweet. Makes my black heart tremble, ever so slightly.  

Ahhh, the sweet couple!

I colored them up with Copics, and embellished their eyes with

Glossy Accents. I used my tiny attacher to attach the eyeball ribbon to

the side of the tag. I am so glad I have that handy attacher/stapler.  

I stamped a sentiment from Paper Make-up Stamps, 

and a cling eyeball stamp from parts unknown.  

I also used my Goosebumps for the first time. It gives a cool,

almost toad-like texture to the project. Nice! I'll be using it

again very soon! Me likey. 

Lastly, I ran some neat, purple ribbon through the tag.

I can't believe I've never used it before, it's so nice to

work with.

That's it for me today.

If you want to see more Dilly Bean creations, please drop by

the challenge blog here. And did you know that Dilly Beans has

a face book page? Check it out here. 

Keep it creepy!

No lines seahorse art journal page

Greetings!

I am trying to get my depleted mojo back, and have found

that random art journaling and coloring tend to get the old

creative juices flowing again. 

I started off by coloring this adorable seahorse (from Dilly Beans)

using the "no-lines" coloring technique.

Even though this technique looks intimidating, it really isn't

any harder than coloring with full black lines. You just have to be

very careful not to go overboard, and respect your ghost lines.

I added the seahorse to my art journal background,

and used some old Distress technique samples as seaweed. 

I have tons of this paper and I always forget to use it.

Nice way to destash.

Here is my journal spread. I used various paints and sprays to 

 create the background. I actually covered up some heinous writing mistakes

using gesso and sprays. I thought these pages were going in the trash,

but happily, I managed to salvage them.  

"Sometimes in the waves of change we find our true direction."

Great quote I found online. No known author.

Here's a little close-up of the background.

I used layers of metallic acrylic paint, Dylusions and Perfect Pearls sprays,

gesso, stencils, and even some Distress Stickles on the seaweed.

Doesn't everything in the ocean sparkle? Well in my ocean, everything sparkles!

   

Would you like to see more inspiring projects using Dilly Bean images?

How about even playing along in our "Anything but a card" challenge this week?

Drop by and check out what we've been up to at 

Dilly Beans Friday challenges.

I'm on a roll!

What's this?! Two weeks in a row?

I must have that Hallowe'en fever that's going around!

This week's challenge theme at Dilly Beans challenges is....

Hallowe'en!!

Once again, I have chosen a witty word art from Ginger's House,

and paired it with probably my favorite and most used image from 

Dilly Beans called,  Monster Boy (#230).

After setting the usual color scheme with my Copics, I destashed this

cute skull border from Tim Coffey/K Designs. I also used some dp

that I could never figure out how or when to use previously.

Throw some rhinestones on it, and everything just kind of works.   

More destashing of glittered spider die cuts, and some awesome

and super cheap cheesecloth. Cheesecloth is perfect for conveying

a Hallowe'en, haunted feel to any project. You can bet you'll be seeing

more of it in the projects to come.  

Check out the other Dilly Beans Hallowe'en inspired projects 

here.

Creepy, but cute.

Hallowe'en has kicked into full gear!

The smell of pumpkin candles and wet paint permeates the air in my house.

The race is on to finish all of the Hallowe'en projects on my numerous lists. 

Some may, but most won't see completion this year, at least.

The current challenge at Wicked Wednesday ATC challenges is 

Cute and Creepy sponsored by Dilly Beans.

I have used #483 Monsters for my Cute and Creepy ATC.

I colored the trio with Copics, fussy cut, and popped them up

from the shoulders up, with foam dots. I added a small

premade tag and some rhinestones. Lastly, I added some white

accents with a gelly roll pen. 

Ta-dah!

Thanks for stopping by!  

Let the holidaze begin!!

No surprise that I am giddy with the onset of the best

holiday ever. The countdown to Hallowe'en has begun!

Actually, the countdown begins over again on November 1st, but

you get the idea. I bleed orange and black all year long.

This card is for the current/new challenge at Dilly Beans challenges,

Hallowe'en. 

Sorry for the blurry picture. I already mailed the card, so this will have to do.

Once again, I have been inspired by the incredibly witty word art from 

Ginger's House. 

Sometimes the word art is just what I need to get in gear and make something

out of nothing. Or at least find my mojo.

Since Megan doesn't really have a typical zombie image, I opted to 

bedeck Nutmeg (#533) in full Hallowe'en regalia.

I went for a dot coloring of her hair, as I am at a loss as to how

to color that awesome fro she's sporting.

I broke out with this cute tombstone brad although it had a big scratch

in the paint. I just got out my needle tool and added some more scratches

to give the idea of cracks rather than a scratched up, misfit brad.  

It's cute, right?

Thanks for dropping by! You should check out the other DT's 

Hallowe'en themed work on the Dilly Beans challenge site.

Maybe you'll even be inspired to play along!    

  

Hallowe'en is on it's way!!

I'm running a bit behind, but for a good cause.

Cause I was busy getting ready for the best holiday ever,

HALLOWE'EN!!!

It's no big secret that I bleed orange and black,

or that I was born into a family who relished the season.

It's in my DNA to be an Autumn People.

So first up, is my guest DT make for the Hallowe'en release at Simply B Stamps  

and for the layers challenge at Simply Steampunk challenges.

I have used the new "Jude Spook" image available here.

After a ridiculous amount of time, I got the boa trim to stay

behind the cool bat brad. Sometimes I spend way too much time on 

the teeniest of things. But I like how it looks, and that makes all of the

cussing and fussing worth it.  

I am stuck in a coloring rut of sorts. I just can't seem to color anything

in a Hallowe'en scheme, without the use of yellow greens, violets, and

yellow reds. Those colors just scream, "Happy Hallowe'en!" to me.  

I hope you'll stop by the Simply Steampunk blog to see the other

marvelous samples using the new images from Simply B Stamps,

and maybe make a layered project as well. 

Next up, is my make for the current challenge at Dilly Beans.

The new theme is buttons.

See what I mean about the color scheme?

I just can't help myself. It's a sickness.... 

I have a TON of buttons that I rarely ever use, so I tried to get as many

as possible on here. I managed to use six buttons. Not bad. 

 I have used the #406 "Worried Skellie" image.

I took some liberties with his eyes and the heart on his

shirt. I replaced them all with buttons in keeping with the theme. 

I also went to town with the white gel pen, too. Still getting the hang of it.

I hope you'll drop by the Dilly Beans Designer's challenge to see

all of the other wonderful samples and maybe even play along

using your Dilly Beans images and some buttons.  

Keep it creepy!!!

Spooky Monochromatic-ish

Today's Dilly Beans challenge is 

MONOCHROMATIC.

Brings back memories of art class, doesn't it?

I guess if I was actually paying attention in class, I would know that

just by adding the orange into my project, it no longer qualifies for 

monochromatic.

So flunk me.

I used #199 Bat Boy Loves Candy image for my 

Hallowe'en scrapbook page. This is the first time I have 

colored this little fellow up. He looks kinda sad.

Or just melancholy.

I used #477 Bat for the top of my page.

He works perfectly with the cool badge in the middle.

I finished it all up with a MS punched bat border, a little die cut tag,

and some orange ribbon. Ta-dah!

I'm hoping to finish this black bag scrapbook by the end of next week.

Better get busy!!!

Thanks for dropping by!

They're no Fiji Mermaids, but....

... they're gorgeous and magical just the same.

I have recently become smitten with the technique of

"no-lines coloring". Contrary to it's name, there are lines,

but they are printed very lightly so when the image is colored they

show very little, or not at all.

I used #560 Kiki Mermaid from Dilly Beans for this journal page.

These images lend themselves quite well to the 'no-lines' technique.

I created the background using spray inks and some white acrylic paint.

I also managed to catch a rainbow in the upper left corner of this photo. 

Cool.

I also colored #559 Nina Mermaid for the second page.

Her hair was fun to create using a dot technique. Curly hair always

throws me for a loop as far as coloring. 

"The seaweed is always greener 

in someone else's lake."

                           -"Sebastian" from The Little Mermaid.

I have to work on my lettering. I completely ruined two pages by using 

a correction pen as a white pen for my sentiment. Way too runny,

and not much control. I'm open to suggestions...

I chopped up some green weave ribbon from May Arts

to look like seaweed. I like all the layers with the spray inks,

acrylic paint, Stickles, and seaweed.

The challenge at Dilly Beans this week is...

MERMAIDS!!!

Drop by and check out more underwater beauties, and

maybe even join in to win some free images from Dilly Beans. 

Major brain fart....

Since my Mom passed away back in March, I have had a rough

time getting my shit together. I try to stay busy, but to the point

where I have numerous unfinished projects throughout my house.

I still have artwork, photos, and masks to hang in the living room.

I have cloches to fill and display my new artwork/sculptures.

I have quite a few pieces of statuary awaiting their impending 

zombification. Not to mention the many DT projects I have in my

head, but have yet to come to fruition. Scattered, is putting it mildly.

So it's no wonder that I have forgotten to post some really cool 

DT projects that made the deadlines, but never saw the light of day

on my personal blog. Again, hours go by and the stuff I was supposed to

do never gets accomplished. Depressed much? Grrrrr.

Anyhoo, here are some projects I have completed in the past couple of months.

This was a Mother's Day card that I created for the

now closed, Summertime challenge at Dilly Beans.  

I used #560 Kiki Mermaid from Dilly Beans.

I made this for a dear boy named, Griffin. He has had a life changing

surgery and needs good cheer while he's recovering in the hospital.

If you'd like to send a card to Griffin, check out this post.

This one went to Griffin as well.

This was for a previous Black and White challenge for Dilly Beans.

I used #279 Framed Bat Ghoul from Dilly Beans. 

I am a huge fan of Barbara, over at Forgotten Scraps,

and what she can do with some Copics and a (yikes!) Tilda image.

Really, this lady is muy talented! Check out this post,

and this one, and this one, too!

So, when Barbara invited me to be a Guest DT for the recent 

release of the Polka Dot Pals for Little Miss Muffet Stamps, 

how could I refuse?

I think Barbara was hoping I'd try to transform these images like she

does with the Tilda's (and these as well), but I was too intimidated. 

Maybe I'll give it a shot in the near future.

Here is a tombstone from Smeared Ink who was sponsoring

Wicked Wednesday ATC challenges a few weeks ago. 

I used Liquid Applique for the fingers. I like it!

I only managed to make a couple of Father's Day cards this year.

I used some cool Volkswagen stamps from Stamper's Best.

I colored them with Distress Inks. I was trying get that

vintage look. 

I also got a killer deal on a bunch of Tim Holtz goodies on ebay.

I really dig these tags. Very masculine.

This one was for the Birds, Eggs, Nests challenge at WW last week.

This one was for WW ATC, too. I used these cute owls from 

Jelly Park. 

This is for the current challenge at WW ATC,

Symbols of Peace, sponsored by Digi Darla.

I used the feather from Digi Darla.

This one is also for the "Symbols of Peace"

challenge at WW ATC. 

I just had to do it.

I snagged this image off the internets.

I think this may have caught me up to current projects, yet to be posted.

Thanks for dropping by.

Keep it Creepy.